River Oaks Chamber Orchestra Welcomes Amy Gibbs as Managing Director

River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) - a 40-piece professional chamber orchestra founded in 2005 with an aim to redefine the orchestral experience for audience and musician - announces the hire of Amy Gibbs as managing director. Gibbs comes to ROCO with a rich background in arts administration and organizational development.

"With her high energy, laser focus and strategic outlook, Amy Gibbs is the perfect catalyst to continue to support our rapid growth," said Alecia Lawyer, ROCO founder, artistic director and principal oboist. "Amy has a deep passion for the arts and the talent required to lead and drive ROCO's mission of shaping the future of classical music through energizing, modernizing and personalizing the orchestral experience."

Prior to joining ROCO, Gibbs served as the capacity building manager at Houston Arts Alliance. In that position, she was responsible for overseeing four flagship programs and providing targeted services for small and mid-sized arts organizations at different life stages. Gibbs worked closely with staff and board leadership of 15 to 25 organizations each year to provide them with individualized, hands-on support to strengthen their administrative infrastructure.

Gibbs' past experience also includes positions at AMS Planning and Research, an arts management consulting firm, where she supported several facility feasibility studies, strategic plans and market research projects; and at DataArts, where she worked with arts and cultural organizations across the United States to report financial and programmatic information. She is the co-chair of Emerging Arts Leaders: Houston and has been involved with Nonprofit Leadership Collaborative and Texans for the Arts.

"Throughout the course of my career, I have developed a passion for entrepreneurial, risk-taking, strategic organizations like ROCO," Gibbs said. "This organization is ambitious, savvy and innovative, and I look forward to guiding its continued growth." In the role of managing director, Gibbs will work closely with Lawyer in moving ROCO forward through its current season and beyond. She will provide oversight for board governance, fundraising, communications and marketing, and will lead daily operations including finance management.

"ROCO has embarked on an innovative and ambitious five year strategic plan," said Alison Comstock Moss, vice-chair of ROCO's board of directors. "Amy's expertise and proven background in nonprofit management adds strength to our incredible team, and she will help us raise ROCO to new heights in the world of classical music."

Gibbs received her B.A. in Drama from Trinity University in San Antonio and her M.S. in Arts Administration, with an emphasis on research and arts policy, from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) is a 40-piece professional chamber orchestra that was founded in 2005 by Alecia Lawyer. A Juilliard-trained musician with an eclectic background as a performer, recording artist, adjunct professor and radio host, Lawyer had a vision to reimagine the orchestral experience for both audience and musicians. The result is ROCO: An orchestra of all-star musicians, distinguished conductors and contemporary composers who come together from all over the world to present unexpected classics, original compositions and delightful performances that dissolve the barriers between audience and orchestra.

For more information about ROCO, visit rocohouston.org or call 713-665- 2700 and check them out on Facebook (facebook.com/rocohouston) or @rocohouston on Instagram and Twitter.

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